Week 40 John 20
Near the end of his gospel John tells why he wrote it: Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John selected these events from Jesus’ life so that you may believe. The You in you may believe is referring to John’s audience (I don’t know if John figured an audience would still be reading his gospel two-thousand years later…but here we are. You includes me & whoever-all-else reads – or has ever read – John’s gospel).
Everyone who has ever read the gospel of John gets a chance to either a) believe it or b) not believe it.
For a reader who believes a kind of laddering takes place.
Step One is where I read a story – let’s say Jesus turning water into wine. Instead of dismissing it as a bit of first-century voodoo I choose a) – I believe it.
Now I’m in a position to take Step Two (another big belief): I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
And finally Step Three – the outcome: by believing I get to have life in his name.
A few other finer points of detail could be added to these Three Steps. But they’re the gist-of-it.
Note: quote from John 20:30-31 (CSB)